Nothing weak or short about Beer Week
Local brewers take 10 days to show off their stuff
Sign On San Diego
It’s called “San Diego Beer Week,” but this countywide celebration is actually a super-sized 10 days. The reason: Local brewers need plenty of time to explain what they’ve been doing.
An ice cream beer float from Extraordinary Desserts (1430 Union St.) is a special menu item for “Beer Week” made with vanilla ice cream and Maui Coconut Porter.
Craft beer has been a San Diego tradition since Karl Strauss’ Columbia Street brewpub opened in February 1989. In the following 20 years, Stone has become the nation’s 28th largest brewery, while a host of smaller outfits (AleSmith, Alpine, Ballast Point, Green Flash, Pizza Port and others) have earned large reputations.
While nationally celebrated — last month, Men’s Journal dubbed San Diego the “new beer capital of the U.S.” — the local brewing scene is enshrouded in myth.
It may take more than a 10-day week to give a complete and accurate accounting of this vibrant community, but let’s dispel six misconceptions here and now:
1. BEER WEEK IS FOR GUZZLERS
Although craft beer fanatics will flock to the 200-plus events, the expanded week is aimed at newbies.
“That’s our goal, to broaden the appeal of craft beer,” said Colby Chandler, president of San Diego Brewers Guild, the event’s sponsor.
Naturally, beer bars (O’Brien’s, Hamilton’s, Toronado, Blind Lady, Churchill’s and others) will host events. But you don’t have to enter a tavern to join this party. Festivities will spill into eateries of all types, from family-oriented chain restaurants to barbecue joints.
Check it out: Stone Pale Ale and IPA pints will all cost $1 less this week at Pacific Beach’s Round Table Pizza, 1221 Garnet Ave. Phil’s BBQ will feature two local breweries each night Sunday through next Thursday, offering six pours plus six barbecue samples for $25.
2. SAN DIEGO BEERS ARE SUPER BITTER
While local brewers make intensely hopped ales, they don’t stop there. Look at the eight awards snagged by Pizza Port at this year’s Great American Beer Festival. Winners ranged from a sweet stout to a Belgian-style strong ale.
“As soon as you think you have a definition of what the San Diego beer style is, it’s something totally different,” said Mac Jilg, founder of Pasadena’s Craftsman Brewing. “It’s morphing so quickly.”
Check it out: The full array of local beers will be on display tomorrow and Saturday at the brewers’ guild’s sixth annual festival, in the World Beat Center, Balboa Park.
3. MICROBREWS ARE A MICROFAD
For the die-hard doubters, here’s a one-word rebuttal: Stone.
The Escondido brewery expects to sell 100,000-plus barrels this year. While that’s small beer to brewing behemoth Anheuser Busch, which regularly tops 125 million barrels, the North County upstart annually grows at a 20-plus percent clip. And Stone distributes the beers of 22 other breweries, from Healdsburg’s Bear Republic to Norway’s Nogne Ø
Check it out: Escondido’s Holiday Wine Cellar will host a tasting of vintage Stone bottles Saturday 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Four beers from Victory, a Pennsylvania brewery in Stone’s portfolio, will be poured at 5 p.m. Wednesday at The Wit’s End in Hillcrest.
4. THE SCHLUB’S TIPPLE
Beer is relatively cheap, but this lowly beverage seduces top chefs. A partial list of fine-dining establishments hosting beer dinners this week: George’s California Modern (one of the three restaurants at George’s at the Cove), the Quarter Kitchen, JSix, A.R. Valentien, Roseville, Kitchen 1540, the Farmhouse Cafe.
Check it out: Sunday’s venue and lineup — 1500 Ocean at the Hotel del Coronado, pairing fine food to beers from Lost Abbey, Ballast Point and Coronado — is impressive. But the concluding chef celebration Nov. 15 at Qualcomm’s Irwin Jacobs Hall will include live music, 16 chefs and beers from eight breweries.
5. SAN DIEGO’S BEERS? BEEN THERE, DRUNK THAT
The local beer scene constantly reinvents itself. Established outfits experiment — have you tried Karl Strauss’ wheat wine? AleSmith Grand Cru on draft? Didn’t think so. And, despite the recession, promising rookies have recently opened doors and fired up brew kettles.
Check it out: Three newcomers will have their moments in Beer Week’s sun. Airedale will be saluted tomorrow at The Linkery; New English, Saturday at Ritual Tavern; and Mission, Tuesday at Cafe Chloe.
6. IT’S JUST BEER
Of course. But given the variety of flavors this beverage offers, that’s like dismissing the world’s culinary bounty with a curt, “It’s just food.”
Check it out: Extraordinary Desserts in Little Italy is serving three sweet, beer-infused treats. Our fave: vanilla bean ice cream topped with roasted coconut, swimming in Maui’s Coconut Porter. A beer float!
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